News

A judge-led public inquiry into the Scottish government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will be established by the end of the year, ministers announced today. A consultation has been launched on the draft aims and principles of the inquiry, and the government said discussions are "underway with

A tobacco kingpin accused of running an illicit cigarette empire has walked free from court after prosecutors bungled the case against him. Stephen Dunn, 55, allegedly operated an unregistered tobacco business from his home.

Levy & McRae has announced the appointment of clinical negligence specialist Elizabeth Rose as a senior associate. Ms Rose has developed an expertise and well respected practice in medical and clinical negligence cases.

Chris Jones of Themis Advocates has been appointed as an advocate depute. Mr Jones will commence in the role in mid-September and will be unable to accept instructions during his time as advocate depute.

Police have been "fair and proportionate" in their enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions, according to new research published by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). The independent advisory group chaired by John Scott QC has published a major 141-page report into police use of Covid-19 powers ahead

Pinsent Masons partner Alastair Morrison has been appointed as chair of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), the parent charity of Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh's Filmhouse and Aberdeen's Belmont Filmhouse. Mr Morrison, who will take up the role from 30 August 2021, is partner a

Cat MacLean, partner and head of dispute resolution at MBM Commercial, has been appointed to the Business Banking Resolution Service's (BBRE) SME liaison panel. Ms MacLean joins eight other members, including an English lawyer and business experts, on the panel, which will advise the BBRS on issues

A law firm has warned that young victims of human trafficking are being criminalised in Scotland instead of protected and supported. JustRight Scotland told investigative platform The Ferret that it has seen a rise in referrals from young Vietnamese people charged and sometimes remanded in Scottish

Edinburgh-based Watermans Solicitors has announced a "home advantage" campaign to welcome loyal fans back into their home stadiums in style.

Reports of online grooming in Scotland have risen by nearly 80 per cent in five years, according to new analysis published by NSPCC Scotland. Police Scotland recorded a record high 685 offences of communicating a sexual message to a child in 2020/21, up from 381 in 2015/16.

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon – or Johnny Rotten – has lost a High Court battle with his former bandmates over a new TV show about their career. He pulled out of the six-part miniseries to be directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and refused to allow the band's music to be used in the s

A Scottish conservation organisation has failed in its legal challenge against a decision of The Highland Council to grant planning permission to build a space port and associated facilities near Tongue. Wildland Ltd challenged the respondent’s decision to allow a planning appli

Shepherd and Wedderburn reported 4.1 per cent turnover growth to £59.3 million in the year to 30 April 2021, with profits before partner distributions rising 13 per cent to £25.3 million. In recognition of the resilience shown by staff over the past year, they have received a bonus of fi

As part of a two-page spread by The Sunday Post highlighting the need for a change of strategy in dealing with drug crime, Melissa Rutherford makes a heartfelt plea for radical reform. As a criminal defence solicitor primarily practising at Glasgow Sheriff Court, I see how devastating drug use is to

Carolyn Jackson looks at how the courts have dealt with medical evidence for which there is no record. When weighing up the evidential strength of medical records, lawyers often say that if it wasn’t written down, it didn’t happen. But simply because something has been written down at th